HAWAII FREEMASON
VOL 24 ISSUE 2 FALL 2013
“HAWAII FREEMASON, FALL 2013” A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
GRAND MASTER M.W. FRANK M. CONDELLO II
DEPUTY GRAND MASTER R.W. RICHARD B. HUSTON SENIOR GRAND WARDEN R.W. MICHAEL P. BAKER JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN R.W. ANDREW L. GEISER
GRAND TREASURER HON. ALBERTO P. ALARCON GRAND SECRETARY M.W. MARTY P. ALEXANDER, PGM GRAND LECTURER M.W. DENNIS S.A. ING, PGM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FROM THE GRAND MASTER ........................................................................................................................... 1 FROM THE DEPUTY GRAND MASTER ................................................................................................................ 6 FROM THE SENIOR GRAND WARDEN - “MASONIC MISCONCEPTIONS” .................................................................. 9 FROM THE JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN – “HOW TO SIT LIKE A MASON” ................................................................. 10 FROM THE GRAND LECTURER - “THE GOOD RITUALIST” .................................................................................... 12 YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION (HON. LEE GORDON, GRAND ORGANIST) .......................................................... 15 SOME MASONIC HISTORY (WB WILFRED LAM, PM, PEARL HARBOR LODGE) ...................................................... 15 ABE LINCOLN’S AXE (DR. JIM TRESNER, GRAND LODGE OF OKLAHOMA) ............................................................. 16 RAINBOW GIRLS’ GRAND ASSEMBLY .............................................................................................................. 18 SCHOFIELD LODGE REPAINTS THEIR TEMPLE .................................................................................................... 19 THE TRAVELING MEN OF HONOLULU LODGE ................................................................................................... 20 LEEWARD LODGE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT ............................................................................................ 21 MID-19TH
CENTURY HONOLULU (HON. STEPHEN D. CARROLL, GRAND HISTORIAN) ............................................. 22
Front Cover: Kamehameha V. On February 27, 1854, Prince Lot Kapuāiwa was raised to the Sublime
Degree of Master Mason in Hawaiian Lodge #21, and there remained a member until his demit on
March 2, 1857. Upon his brother’s death in 1863, he reigned as Kamehameha V for 9 years.
PUBLISHED BY THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF HAWAII, F&AM 515 WARD AVE SUITE 212 HONOLULU, HI 96814
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FROM THE
GRAND MASTER M.W. FRANK M. CONDELLO II Aloha brethren! Well, it is hard to
believe that half of the Grand Lodge Masonic year is already over. It
goes by quicker than you would think. I have remained quite busy
with visitations, Executive Board meetings and representing our
jurisdiction in other states. In August, I had the pleasure and
honor to represent Hawaii at the
Scottish Rite’s Biennial Session in Washington DC. There were 33
Grand Masters in attendance from all over the Southern Jurisdiction.
It was truly wonderful to finally tour the House of the Temple. If
you have never been there, it is a must see. There is so much history
there and the architecture is amazing. In the Albert Pike
Library, I discovered a letter to Pike from King David Kalakaua. In
1884, King Kalakaua presented Pike with a diploma, and an insignia
of the Grand Officer of the Royal
Order of the Crown of Hawaii. There is so much history that we
just never learn about, and which sometimes pops up unexpectedly.
This trip was even more memorable when I was honored with receiving
my 33rd Degree during a very memorable and beautiful
ceremony.
During some federal training in September, I traveled to Denver
and Boulder, Colorado. I got stuck in that terrible flood in Boulder.
What a crazy experience! I was lucky enough to attend a lodge
meeting in Denver the night before the big flood. The brethren of
Albert Pike Lodge No. 117 in Denver treated me very well and
we had a wonderful evening that involved some great philosophic
discussion. At the beginning of October, RW Rick Huston, MW
Marty Alexander, and I traveled to San Francisco and attended the
Grand Lodge of California Annual
Communication. They had almost 1,000 brethren in attendance! The
Grand Lodge of California launched
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a Masonic Educational program that they have been working on for
several years. It is an online program that is
available to candidates. It has
e-books, videos, tests, and Masonic
games. As the candidates
progress, the Master of the lodge and
their mentors can check on their
progress and give feedback. The cost
is about $75 per
candidate. I was able to get the
Grand Lodge of California to agree
to allow us to test this new educational program and
see if it would be good for our candidates as well. Because our
ritual is virtually identical to theirs, I believe it would be a good tool for
our lodges to provide to new candidates. I will keep you all
posted as to when this education program will be available to the
lodges.
At the beginning of November, I
will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia on federal business. I have
arranged to attend a Past Masters Third Degree and a Scottish Rite
function. I try to attend Masonic functions wherever I go. I learn so
much by doing this and make lasting friendships as a result. I
would encourage you to do the same when you are traveling. On
November 15th and 16th, there will be two events honoring the
birthday of King David Kalakaua. On the 15th, the
event will occur at the Kalakaua
statue in Waikiki where Kalakaua
and Kuhio Avenues meet.
This will occur at 10 a.m. and last
approximately one hour. On the 16th,
there will be another event at
the Iolani Palace.
I have been asked to speak at both
events and look forward to it. All
Masons are encouraged to attend and wear
their Masonic regalia with pride. More details should be sent out
soon by ROLLS.
We are quickly approaching a very busy time in our Masonic year. The
month of December will be packed with lodge installations and other
Masonic related events. Lodge
elections are happening in November and I would encourage
any officer that has not yet qualified for their positions next
year to get on it. Please do not wait until the last minute. It is
embarrassing to you as well as your lodge. You have had all year
to work on your ritual. That being said, I want you to know that I am
proud of your hard work when it comes to ritual. Through my
MW Frank Condello II with MW James
Herrington, Grand Lodge of Alaska, at California's Annual Communication.
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travels to other states, I have learned that many jurisdictions are
not as strict as ours. I was surprised that many states don’t
even require proficiency examinations for their candidates
and officers are not required to memorize lectures
or confer degrees to rise to the
position of Worshipful Master.
For a smaller jurisdiction, we
should be very proud that our
officers have been
able to step up to the plate each
year and qualify in all of the degree
work. I believe knowing the work
the way we require adds a
level of respect and dedication
that we don’t see around the country. I always make a point of
telling other mainland Masons of our requirements and they are
usually quite surprised. So, keep
up the good work and as I have always said, “Serve with honor.”
I am still working on a
Constitutional Observance program for our jurisdiction. It was
supposed to happen at the end of November but I am still working on
the venue. I am currently in negotiations with the Bishop
Museum to have the event on their grounds and to have them co-
sponsor the event. I think this will add a level of class and community
support to the event and showcase Freemasonry and our contributions
to history even more. I will keep all of you posted on this event.
As a whole, our
jurisdiction is doing well and our
numbers continue to slowly grow.
This doesn’t mean we don’t have our
problems. We can always be better
men and Masons.
We continue to struggle with the
Lodge Le Progres issue and they will
continue under dispensation from
the Grand Lodge for the foreseeable
future. I know it is a lot to ask if this
isn’t your lodge, but this lodge needs your help. If you have the
time it would be very much appreciated if you would be willing
to attend this lodge on Friday
nights and lead by example. Past Masters and officers that have
qualified in degree ritual and lodge administration are highly
encouraged to assist them.
I hope you have enjoyed our revamped Grand Lodge of Hawaii
website. If you haven’t checked it out lately, it is located at
www.hawaiifreemason.org. Before next year’s AnCom, I plan to have
MW Frank Condello II and WB Jay Allen, Albert Pike Lodge #117, Denver, CO.
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a section on the web page where you can register online and even
pay for banquet tickets by PayPal. This should make it easier for our
visiting brethren from out of state as well as brethren not on O’ahu.
As you can see from the advertisement, I have designed a
new Grand Lodge of Hawaii polo shirt. The design is based on my
pin and the shirt is of high quality dry fit material that won’t shrink or
fade. The cost is $30 and I will place orders once payment is
received. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get your own
shirt!
Lastly, I want to leave you with
this. We as a fraternity can only accomplish great things if we
believe in our common goal and believe in each other. Too often,
brethren within our fraternity give in to temptation and begin to
bicker, fight and pit brother against brother. I cannot think of a more
dishonorable act. We cannot tolerate such behavior. Remember
my simple motto of “Serve With Honor.” Everything that you do as
a man and as a Mason needs to be
tested with that motto. If it doesn’t meet that standard, then it should
not be done. Plain and simple. Remember your oaths and
obligations and allow them to be a permanent part of your being. If
that is done we will surely thrive and survive for many years to
come. My greatest pleasure would be to see my 13 year old son one
day become a Freemason. I know that we can contribute to society in
a positive way for the future generations. We all make a
difference, no matter how small if may seem to others. Together we
are strong. Divided we are insignificant.
Fraternally,
Frank M. Condello II Grand Master
On behalf of Kentucky Governor Steven L.
Beshear, Bro Stephen Carroll presents MW
Frank Condello II his Kentucky Colonel commission.
On behalf of MW Chris Stout, Grand Lodge
of Kentucky, WB Diamond Robinson
presents MW Frank Condello II a certificate
of honorary membership in the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
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GRAND LODGE OF HAWAII F. & A. M.
POLO SHIRTS
Grand Lodge of Hawaii polo shirts are now available! They are made of high quality Dry Fit material and won't fade or shrink like traditional cotton polo shirts. The cost is $30 and they come in all sizes. Please e-mail the Grand Master at [email protected] with your order. Please indicate the size and number of shirts you want. Please mail payment to: MW Frank Condello 94-1079 Kapehu St., Waipahu, HI 96797 Once payment is received, an order will be placed. Notification that your shirt
is ready will be made by
e-mail.
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FROM THE DEPUTY GRAND MASTER
R.W. RICHARD B. HUSTON
Having just returned from spending
the month of October in the mainland, I have found myself
caught short with only an evening to put some intelligent words to paper
for the Grand Lodge Newsletter. Not trying to be hard on myself, but I
usually take a few days running topics through my mind, and once picked, writing, editing, re-reading
before I am satisfied. I do this mostly because I do not want to
ramble on and bore the reader, much like I am doing now.
So, I think the best place to start is to talk about the Grand Lodge of California’s Annual Communication in
San Francisco the first weekend of October. This is after all where the
journey began. Accompanied by my wife Karen, we arrived on the
evening of the 3rd, and checked into the Handlery Union Square Hotel on
Geary Street. Although not one of the host hotels for the Grand Lodge,
it was within a quick cab or trolley car ride to the Masonic Memorial
Temple. I mention the Handlery only because they specifically offer
Kama’aina rates to Hawaii residents and they are centrally located in the Nob Hill area of San Francisco with
ease of transportation to all parts of that great city. Stop rambling, back
to Masonry.
Besides being very impressed with the beauty of the Masonic Memorial
Temple, which I recommend to any Mason passing through SF, I was
very impressed with the execution of the business portion of the AnCom,
listening and learning a lot not only about the GL of CA, but of Masonry.
On the morning of the first day, they ran a video entitled, “Masonry and
Religion”, how is it connected, or is it connected. I was totally enthralled with this video as it addressed and
answered so many of the questions I have had about the connection of all
religions to Masonry, or vice versa. So much so, that I asked their DGM
how to obtain a copy for Masonic Education here in Hawaii. He has
assured me I would receive it, but also, they are going to put it on their
web site. As soon as one or the other happens, I will certainly let the
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brethren of this jurisdiction know – as it is truly dynamic.
Probably the single most event I will carry with me from this Grand
Communication, was the afternoon Karen and I stood in front of, and
admired in awe, almost to the brink of tears, the actual bible upon which
Worshipful Master George Washington took his Masonic vows,
and later his oath of office as the first President of the United States.
There have also been several presidents, like George Bush Sr. who
also used this same bible for his oath of office. What a remarkable piece of history!
In the following paragraphs I will
attempt to bring something Masonry into the rest of our travels during the
month. I think I can, without too much rambling. Our first stop was in
Spokane to spend some time with my cousins there and do some
hunting. My nephew’s son, Jared, 12 years of age shot his first deer, a 4
point spike. Shot at 136 yards with a .243, it was an excellent shot. Is
there a Masonic story/lesson here? Yep. His dad, Kasey, is a Spokane
City Paramedic/firefighter, who has become interested in becoming a Mason, I’m sure do in part to his
Uncle Rick. Anyway, as we stood watch, waiting for the arrival of a
deer, he spoke of an incident which occurred the week prior. Seems his
truck was called to a residence where an elderly man was experiencing
chest pains. Kasey, being the lead paramedic, diagnosed the issue,
started an IV and prepared him for transport to the hospital, at which
time the elderly gentlemen became extremely upset, fighting back and insisting he was not going to any
hospital. With his vital signs going off the charts, Kasey attempted
talking with him and reassuring him. It was at this point Kasey noticed
some Shrine plaques on the wall next to them. He asked the elderly man if
he was a Mason and a Shriner, to which he acknowledged he was.
Kasey then proceeded to tell him how interested he has been and
asked what he needed to do. From that point all the way to the hospital,
attempting to talk through his oxygen mask and medication, the old Shriner talked with him about
Masonry and Shriners. A firefighter/paramedic, who has yet to
become one of us, using Masonry to do good.
Too much rambling? Ok, one more.
On to Montana and more camping
and visiting relatives. One of our journeys was to accompany Karen’s
sister to a little town called Belt, Montana. A little old historic town,
which is hidden in the hills of eastern Montana. So much so that the town
cannot be seen from the freeway which passes by higher up on the plateau. Our purpose for the visit
was to scatter the ashes of Uncle Albert, Karen and Leslie’s great
Uncle, who grew up in Belt, and whose parents are buried there.
Uncle Albert had passed several years ago, but the family waited until
more than one family member could go, I of course was the designated
driver. Belt has a population of 597, and covers an area of 0.35 miles!
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Driving down into this huge draw and into the town was almost like going back in time to the early 1900’s. We
had little difficulty in finding the cemetery, which was on a small knoll
southeast of the town approximately [what we would call] 3 blocks from
downtown Belt. It was also with little difficulty that we located the
graves of Uncle Albert’s parents. OK, where’s the Masonry story here?
After scattering the ashes, we walked around this small, old cemetery
looking at and reading headstones. I failed to count the number, but I
observed at a minimum, two dozen headstones displaying the square and compass.
There were very old ones, as in the
early 1900’s, to ones as recent as 2011. Several had the same last
names, indicating brothers, fathers and sons. I was very impressed,
that a town of less than 600 people could have so many Masons.
I am certain that the town of Belt did not, or does not have a lodge of their own. I would assume that they
travelled to the city of Great Fall which is only 25 or 27 miles away to
attend lodge, but to think that so many men from this small, old
fashion farming town took time to fulfill a Masonic Obligation was to
me, truly awesome!
I hope I have not rambled on too much, and have at least held you
interest. We are approaching the holidays and at this time of year, the
installation of officer’s. I look forward to seeing all of you, and celebrating our heritage and our faith
in the greatest holiday of the year. Mele Kalikimaka and Hau’oli Makahiki
Hou!!!
Fraternally,
Rick Huston, DGM
Grand Lodge Visitation to Leeward Lodge, 11 October 2013
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FROM THE
SENIOR GRAND WARDEN R. W. MICHAEL P. BAKER
“MASONIC MISCONCEPTIONS”
One would think with over
22,000 books written on Masonry, thousands of articles and a host of
documentaries, not to mention Masons themselves being active in
communities all around the world
that there would be few misconceptions concerning the
Craft. However, misconceptions abound, and I’m not talking about
the nut cases that think we are devil worshipers or those who
believe that we secretly run the world. The misconceptions I am
concerned with are those centered on prospective Masons … the good
men we look to welcome into our fraternity. Most common among
these is the idea that the Masonic Lodge may be similar to the animal
lodges such as the Elks or the Moose, where camaraderie is based
on the bar. Many are taken back by the rite, the ritual, the formality,
the archaic language. Added to that many are confused by the biblical
references, the obligation and the accompanying lectures and
charges.
Who among us has not wondered after their first entry into
a Lodge, “Just what the hell am I getting into?”
Everything that happens to a
man as he progresses through the degrees would not have seemed all
that strange back in the 1950’s or 60’s … the age where any type of
formality ended. However in 2013 the Masonic experience can appear
downright strange.
We cannot explain to a man all that he will experience while
becoming a Mason, as that is what the degrees are for. We can
however explain the circumstances
he will find himself in: a very formal setting, a precise ritual,
lectures, speeches and charges all delivered in archaic language and
every word memorized by the Mason giving it. We can tell him
that the reason this will all seem a bit odd is that all he will be hearing
and the words he himself will be
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speaking are hundreds upon hundreds of years old. He will hear
the same lecture that George Washington heard when he became
a Mason and take the very same oath in the same words that
Washington spoke. And those words, when Washington spoke
them, were already centuries old.
Suddenly odd and strange becomes extremely special. The
best way to counter misconceptions concerning Masonry is the truth:
Our Lodge meetings are formal, the centuries old ritual is
precise and well-practiced, the obligations, lectures and charges
memorized word for word and the
experience of going through the degrees is like no other experience
on earth! It is, as all Masons are, very special.
FROM THE JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN R. W. ANDREW L. GEISER
“HOW TO SIT LIKE A MASON”
At the 2001 Annual Communication
of the Grand Lodge of California, Grand Master Decker’s
Recommendation No. 4 was
approved authorizing a Task Force to prepare a “Ritual Manual.” This
document was intended to serve as a companion to their cipher ritual
and to clarify the “Floor Work.”
If one were to read through this
document, as I have done, he would find on page 11 instructions,
complete with pictures, on how to properly sit like a Mason. Excepting
the military, no other organization comes to mind that instructs its
members as to how to properly sit. This begs more than a few
questions. Is it a simple matter? Do
we really have in our midst those who do not know how to sit?
Perhaps the photo depicting how to sit like a Mason is a picture worth a
thousand words. Harmony, we are often told, is the strength and
support of our Society.
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Unfortunately we are never instructed, in a literal sense, just
how it is that we are to achieve that harmony.
Perhaps the photo depicting Brothers dutifully posing as
properly seated Masons says something about the role of
conformity in our fraternity. Conformity plays an integral role in
Freemasonry, does it not? Do we
not bind ourselves via promises to God to conform to a large number
and wide array of behaviors? Indeed we do!
What to do then when one of us, Masonically speaking, goes astray?
What would constitute “going astray” in the context of
Freemasonry? Pretty lofty debate we are headed toward, but I
believe it is one worth having.
MW Frank Condello II at a recent initiation of two candidates into the Order of DeMolay.
Lodge Master Members
Hawaiian Lodge WM Michael J. Lopez 452 Honolulu Lodge WM Diamond M. Robinson 223 Kauai Lodge WM Christopher A. Stowe 40
Kilauea Lodge WM Donald M. Millard, Jr 85 Ko’olau Lodge WM Seth A. Connell 85
Kona Lodge WM J. Daniel Miller 84 Leeward Lodge WM Percival A. Sudiacal 180 Lodge Le Progres de l’Oceanie RW Richard B. Huston 230
Lodge Maui WM Jerry Eiting 108 Pearl Harbor WM Mike Maklary 178
Schofield Lodge WM Darryl E. Lajola 160 ...as of 31 Oct 2013: 1825
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THE GOOD RITUALIST
M.W. DENNIS ING, PGM
GRAND LECTURER
The good ritualist doesn’t have to possess a photographic memory.
He must have a positive attitude and a love for the words and the
language (Embracing the Ritual, July 2012). He must work
methodically, start his assignment early, and partition his work into
manageable portions, marking
those portions with “milestones” (Planning Ritual Study, March
2013). In this essay, we will explore some methods you might
find useful in imprinting the Ritual into your memory.
In earlier essays, we pointed out
that the Blue Lodge Ritual is very repetitive – the same passages
appear over and over, from the First to the Third Degrees. Thus,
one key to memorizing the Ritual is to notice these similarities and
differences. One obvious example is that ceremonies for Lodge
openings and closings are almost identical for each Degree. What
are the differences? How many officers stand and recite in each
Degree? Do they recite the same
duties in each Degree? Does the WM always use the word
“communicate” in the same context? Does the SW always use
the word “report” in the same context?
At the preparation room door, the dialogue between the SD and SS
are almost the identical in each Degree, but how do they differ?
When does the SD say only “right” and “right or benefit”? Notice that
the JW always says “his examination”, and the SW “further
examination”. One very common mistake is for the WM to say “Is
THIS % hs on f w @ a”, instead of “Is IT”.
I frequently teach the Inspectors
that they can spot a good ritualist by his use of simple words, like the
articles “the” and “a”, and the preposition “of”. Does the JD say
“without THE permission of”, or does he correctly leave out “the”.
When asked the composition of a Lodge, does the SW say “OF the
WM, THE Sr and Jr Ws”, or does he
forget the OF and/or THE? Does the WM ask for the word to be
“SENT” or “brought” up? Is the word accompanied by the due
guards and signs (plural), or is it the singular for one or both? When
giving instruction on the signs, does the SD correctly use “raise” or
“throw” from degree to degree? Is it the “angle of A square”, or “angle
of THE square”? When Hiram first reports to Solomon, does he say
“SO raised” or “THUS raised”? He who observes these subtle
differences in the ceremonies has
an appreciation for accuracy, and such accuracy aids in the
memorization process.
It goes without saying that a good
ritualist expresses the Ritual in a
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meaningful manner. He must understand what he is saying. In
your initial encounter with the assignment, make sure you
understand the meaning of every word, and its proper pronunciation.
What is the overall point or message of the passage? Where
should the emphasis (in your voice) be given?
For example, the Old English
expression, “s tk @ ac am brs @ fls” is not part of “I am”, which is
the first response to the WM and which is why the latest cipher
places a comma after “I am”. So it is proper to pause after “I am”.
Similarly, after the candidate says “I hv nthg” to the WM’s demand in
the EA degree, the emphasis in the WM’s comment is on the word
“expctd”, to indicate that the WM
was asking a rhetorical question, to which he already knew the answer.
And when the SD instructs the candidate to “rais ╥ rt thus”, the
word “thus” means “in this manner”. So there is a period after
“thus”, and the phrase is not combined with the word “drw”, as
in “thus drw”.The definition and
proper pronunciation of many of the archaic words in our ritual
cannot be readily found in standard dictionaries. You may be required
to study the etymology of the word, or resort to Biblical history, or the
Bible itself – all of which is fun. But the easiest way to discover the
meaning of a passage is to ask an old-timer, one who, of course, is
himself a good ritualist. Take everything with a “grain of salt”,
and in cases of dispute, ask your Inspector, the Grand Lecturer or a
member of the Ritual Committee1.
You should also become an “active listener” in Lodge, by seeing
whether you know passages being recited by others – whether it’s a
lecture or a statement of duties, or even a prayer. See if you can learn
something from listening to another’s recitation. Active
listening makes it easier to keep from falling asleep.
Now you are ready to tackle the
memory work. Memorize one sentence at a time. Practice
without using the cipher, but make sure every word is correct – leave
out nothing and insert no extra
words. Say the sentence out loud (outside the hearing of cowans and
eavesdroppers) with proper emphasis, pausing where necessary
and with accurate pronunciation. Once you have mastered that
sentence – with absolute perfection
1 A few years ago, the WM of one of our constituent Lodges insisted that when giving the
grip and words, the dialogue between the WM and SW began with the words “I heel”, that
the Old English expression adopted by our Masonic ancestors was pronounced that way,
instead of what we have been doing “forever”; i.e., “I hail”. There is a similar controversy
in the MM Degree: when the WM breaks from the candidate in explaining the 5 pts, the
cipher says he should say “Tt, m br...”, the “Tt” meaning “that”, which is correct, while
others believe the old practice was (and should still be) “this”.
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– memorize the next sentence, also with absolute perfection. Then say
the two sentences together, with absolute perfection. Only after you
can recite those two sentences together perfectly, should you go
on to the third sentence, and so on, until you have memorized the
whole paragraph.
Do this for each paragraph, sentence by sentence, up to your
first “milestone”. Then see if can speak the entire passage within
that milestone with absolute perfection. Now you are ready to
go on to the next milestone. Some instructors advocate proceeding
step by step, from the first part of your assignment to the last.
However, you might find yourself “stuck” on a particularly difficult
passage, and you might proceed
faster if you learned say, a monitorial portion, where you won’t
have to interpret the coded language. If you do this, be sure to
memorize the coded and monitorial passages in their proper context, in
order to keep the proper sequence of your lecture or assignment.
Finally, we are learning similarities
and differences, being accurate in our use of words and language, and
expressing ourselves with comprehension and meaning in
order to convey the Ritual to an audience. The “audience” consists
of not only the candidate, the other officers and the Officers’ Coach, but
also everyone else in the room. Speak loud enough for everyone to
hear – not just the candidate or the person speaking to you. The good
ritualist should think of himself as a teacher, conveying to all the
history, beauty and moral lessons
of our Masonic ceremonies.
Bro. Tommy Chun (Lodge Le Progres de
l’Oceanie) receives his 50-year Scottish Rite
cap. With Ill. Wm. "Pete" Holsemback, 33°,
Grand Cross, Personal Representative (left)
and Ill. Kenneth Berry, 33°, Deputy for the Orient of Hawaii and Guam (right).
MW Frank Condello II, 33°; Illustrious Pete
Holsomback, 33° Grand Cross; Ill. Roy
Ota, 33°; and Ill. Kenneth Berry, 33°,
Deputy for the Orient of Hawaii and Guam
during the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction’s Biennial Session in August.
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YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION HON. LEE DAVID GORDON
GRAND ORGANIST I am extremely excited to have been appointed a leadership position in our Grand Lodge during the past year.
Although my position has been relatively passive when it comes to the
day to day operations of our jurisdiction, it has been an honor to have served with our Grand Master,
Most Worshipful Frank M. Condello II. His leadership has been awe inspiring
and a driving force in my continuing effort to become a better Mason.
This is the time of year that we all start the process of creating “New
Year’s Resolutions” for ourselves. Why not make one or two resolutions to
help your lodge? Ask your Master “What can ‘I’ do to help support you and/or our Lodge this year”. I know
that he will be happy that you asked. Sometimes just take the initiative and
don’t wait to be asked, if you see something that needs to be done “just do it”. Our volunteer hours are a very
precious gift that we can provide our lodges.
As we move into the upcoming Holiday season I hope you and your
family have a very Happy and Joyous season. As you gather with family and
friends enjoy all the blessings that you have received and remember those who are less fortunate. All of our
Masonic related organizations are a gift that we must all be thankful to be
a part of. It extends an opportunity to each and every one of us to share and unite in the common good and to live
up to our Grand Masters Motto of “Serving with Honor.”
SOME MASONIC HISTORY WB WILFRED LAM, PM
JR WARDEN, PEARL HARBOR The Invisible Lodge was founded in 1953 in New York by Brother Brewerton H. Clarke, also known as Sir
Felix Korim. The membership of this lodge is exclusively for performing
magicians who are Masons. One of the most exclusive Masonic groups is the Society of Blue
Friars. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to Masonic authors.
Founded in 1932, the society admitted its one hundredth member in 2011.
Membership growth is slow because it is allowed, by its by-laws, to appoint only one new member each year.
The Detroit Masonic Temple is the world’s largest Masonic Temple.
The building houses a wide-variety of public spaces including three auditoriums, two ballrooms, and a
160’x 100’ clear-span Drill Hall. Its recreational facilities include a
swimming pool, racquet ball court, gymnasium, bowling alley, and a pool room. There are numerous lodge
rooms, offices and dining space as well as a “hotel” tower designed for visiting
members. Its Theatre is considered as one of the finest in the United States and has a seating capacity of 4,404.
The largest Master’s chair is in Ophir Lodge #33 Murphy, California.
It is 15 feet long and can seat the Master, living Past Master and visiting dignitaries.
In 1920, Gate City Lodge #522 in Kansas City, MO met every day of
the week except Sundays to confer a record 1,107 degrees, which averages 21 degrees a week.
Hope you enjoyed this little bit of history.
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”ABE LINCOLN’S AXE” DR. JIM TRESNER
GRAND LODGE OF OKLAHOMA THE OKLAHOMA MASON, APRIL/MAY 1995
The story is told of a
historian, recording folk history in Illinois in the 1970's. Several
people in the countryside had told him of a farm family which
possessed the axe Abraham Lincoln had used when splitting logs for a
living as a young man. The historian finally found the
farm, and found the farmer in the yard splitting wood for the living
room fireplace. He asked him about
the story. "Yes," said the farmer, "it's
true. Abe Lincoln lived around here as a young man, and he worked for
a while splitting wood for my great-great-grandfather. Happened he'd
bought a new axe from a peddler the day before Abe Lincoln came to
work here, and he gave it to Lincoln to use. We've kept it ever since."
"That's a real historical treasure," said the historian. "It
really ought to be in a museum. Would you mind going into the
house and bringing it out so I could
see it?" "Oh we know it's important,"
said the farmer. "I take it to the school from time to time and tell
the kids about it and Lincoln. Seems to sorta make him real for
them. But I don't have to go into the house, I've got it here."
He handed the horrified historian the axe he had been
using; "You mean you're still USING it?!"
"Sure! An axe is meant to be used."
The historian looked it over carefully. "I must say your family
has certainly taken good care of it." "Of course, we know we're
protecting history. Why, we've replaced the handle twice and the
head once."
In many ways, Masonry is like Abe Lincoln's axe. All of us tend
to assume that Masonry has always been the way it was when we
joined. And we become fiercely
protective of it in that form. But, in fact, we've done more than replace
the handle twice and the head once.
When Brothers George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
(and the other Masons of their era and for decades to come) joined
the Fraternity, they did not demonstrate proficiency by
memorizing categorical lectures. Instead, the same evening they
received a degree they sat around a table with the other Brethren of
the Lodge. The Brethren asked
each other questions and answered them for the instruction of the new
Brother. They asked him questions, and helped him with the answers.
The discussion continued until they were confident that he understood
the lessons of the Degree. They then taught him the signs and
tokens, and he was proficient. In many cases, he took the next
Degree the next night. The system of demonstrating proficiency by
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memorizing catechism is considered less 150 years old.
The custom of allowing 28 days to pass between Degrees
came about for no other reason than the fact that most lodges only
met every 28 days, on the nights of the full moon. There was no
mystery behind that. Very few horses come equipped with
headlights, and only on nights of a full moon could people see well
enough to leave their homes in the country and come into town for a
meeting safely. More importantly, the nature
and purpose of the Fraternity has
changed radically over time. It certainly is no longer a protective
trade association, nor a political force amounting almost to a
political party, but it has been those over its long history.
So yes, Masonry changes. It changes fairly frequently and
sometimes dramatically. Far from being a bastion of conservative
resistance to change, through most of its history it has been a major
change agent--fostering revolutions in political life (the American
revolution, for example) and social
life. It created the tax-supported public school system. It created
homes for the elderly and orphanages, and then worked for
the sort of social legislation to make those wide-spread. It sought
economic development for states and communities.
And Masonry is like Abe Lincoln's axe in another way. For,
although the handle and head had been replaced, that axe was still
the one used by Abe Lincoln in truth if not in fact. The farmer used
it to teach children about it and about Abe Lincoln. He helped make
the past real to them, so that they could learn the great values of
honesty and hard work which Lincoln typified.
It's the same with Masonry.
In spite of the many changes which have already happened and the
changes which are bound to happen in the future--for Masonry,
like any living thing, must change and grow or die--it is still the same.
It's essence—the lessons it teaches,
the difference it makes in the lives of men, that great moment of
transformation which is the goal of Masonry, when a man becomes
something new and better than he was when became in the door as a
candidate--that essence cannot and will not be lost, as long as Brothers
meet in the true Masonic spirit, to work and learn and study and
improve themselves and the world.
That's Masonry. And like Abe Lincoln's axe, it was meant to be
used, not to rust away in a
museum case. That use keeps it bright and sharp and Masonic, no
matter how often the handle and head need to be replaced.
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RAINBOW GIRLS’ GRAND ASSEMBLY
The 42nd session of the
Grand Assembly of Hawaii, IORG, began on June 21, 2013 with a
banquet at the Pagoda Hotel. Grand Worthy Advisor (GWA) Joy
Saludo’s session theme was “Faith, Trust, and Pixi Dust”. The session
was dedicated to the “Dad to Dad” program - all the fathers,
grandfathers and uncles who come out and support the Rainbow Girls.
The GWA’s service project
this year was the Autism Society. The Autism Society of Hawaii is a
non-profit organization serving
families touched by autism and autism spectrum disorders. They
are the local chapter of the National Autism Society headquartered in
Bethesda, Maryland. The National and Local Societies exist to improve
the lives of all affected by autism. They do this by increasing public
awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the
spectrum, by advocating for appropriate services for individuals,
and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education,
research, and advocacy.
The highlight of the evening was the appointment of the new
Grand Assembly Officers by the Supreme Deputy. Rozzelle Rono is
our new Grand Worthy Advisor for the ensuing Rainbow year.
Saturday and Sunday
sessions were held at Scottish Rite.
Ritualistic Opening, Initiation, Reports, Meals, and the Grand
Cross of Color Degree were some of the activities done during the
session. A ghost walk at I’olani Palace followed by ice cream on
Saturday night allowed the girls to let their hair down. The session
ended Sunday afternoon with the Installation of the new Grand
Assembly Officers. It was quite a weekend.
Grand Lodge Visitation to Pearl Harbor Lodge, 12 August 2013.
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SCHOFIELD LODGE REPAINTS THEIR TEMPLE
High-pressure wash removes years of
wind-swept red clay from the Temple.
Complimentary trim accentuates the
blue in “Blue Lodge.”
In October, the brethren of Schofield Lodge repainted their Temple.
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THE TRAVELING MEN
OF HONOLULU LODGE
On 12 September, WBro. Diamond
Robinson and Bro. Stephen Carroll, JW attended Trimble Lodge #145,
Grayson, KY. They were presented honorary memberships to Trimble
Lodge #145, and presented the Honolulu Lodge, Grand Lodge and
Grand Master’s pin to the pillars and distinguished guests. Above (L-
R), Hon. Stephen Carroll; RWBro Wilson K. Wilder, Grand Senior
Warden, Grand Lodge of Kentucky; RWBro. Richard T. Nation, Deputy
Grand Master; Brian P. McCormick, District Deputy Grand Master, 27th
District/Master, Poage Lodge #325;
and WBro. Diamond Robinson after the stated meeting.
On 14 September, WBro. Diamond Robinson and Bro. Stephen Carroll,
JW attended Fred M. Gross Lodge #953, Ashland, KY, representing
Honolulu Lodge in their current chairs and the Grand Lodge of
Hawaii as Senior Grand Deacon and Grand Historian. Fred M. Gross
Lodge #953 hosted the first part of
the annual Outdoor Degree and graciously permitted (with
dispensation) WBro. Robinson to confer in accordance with Hawaiian
ritual. Above, WBro. Diamond Robinson and WBro. Aaron Withrow
during a “free from restraint” moment.
MW Chris Stout, Grand Master of
Masons in Kentucky, was in
attendance and presented the Traveling Men with Honorary
Memberships in the Grand Lodge of Kentucky as well as his Gavel, the
Grand Lodge necktie and the Grand Master’s pin.
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LEEWARD LODGE
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT In collaboration with the Army National Guard, Leeward Lodge constructed a
durable, secure and weatherproof storage shed for the Barbers Point Elementary
School. The shed will be used for safekeeping the children’s toys and other
playground equipment.
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JOHN HASSINGER, PM
DESCRIBES MID-19TH
CENTURY HONOLULU AND THE FORMATION OF LODGE LE PROGRES DE
L’OCEANIE AND HAWAIIAN LODGE
HON. STEPHEN D. CARROLL
GRAND HISTORIAN
On May 5, 1902, Hawaiian Lodge celebrated their 50th anniversary of
their charter - their "Golden Jubilee." On that momentous
occasion, W.Bro John A. Hassinger, PM (1868, 1869) gave a speech
reflecting on the previous fifty-odd
years of Masonry in Hawaii. The full text of his speech is far too long
to be included in its entirety, highlights below:
Worshipful Master, Ladies and
Brethren: Historical reminiscences, save to those who may have
special interest in the line of history under review, are generally devoid
of interest, and my only encouragement on this occasion,
lies in the fact that Freemasons are inclined to a fondness for "any
ancient history" so long as it may
include some legend of the order, and they are diligent students when
opportunity permits them to trace Masonic history to days long gone
by, provided the dates and occurrences may seem to be
authentic. If you will bear with me, I will
endeavor to light the burden upon
your patience, by avoiding as much as possible of "dry detail" in my
attempt to make this outline of Masonic history in Hawaii a
connected recital. It will be necessary to weave in some
threads of local surroundings, in those days when the banner of the
"Compass and Square," closely following the standard of
Christianity, was planted in these Mid-Pacific Islands. Permit me to
draw aside the misty curtain covering some sixty years of the
shadowy past and give you a glimpse of Honolulu as it appeared
about the year 1843.
The village or town consisted of scattered groups of habitations,
chiefly the native grass house, mingled here and there with adobe
buildings after the Spanish style, a few buildings of hewn coral stone
and a gradually increasing number of wooden residences, built mostly
of lumber brought around Cape Horn, some of the buildings having
been already framed before shipment. Porches, verandas and
the cool lanai adjacent were much in evidence as a protection from
the scorching rays of the sun at
high meridian. Except during the rainy season the soil was parched
and dry. The plain upon which the town stood was bare of either trees
or shrubbery to relieve the eye or cool the air. In the distant
background stood enormous walls of mountain closing in the plateau
of the upper Nu’uanu valley. Across their summits, swept
masses of cloud which broke and fell in mist-like showers, feeding
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the upland streams and nourishing terrace upon terrace of kalo
plantations. But the rain was mostly
dissipated by the hot air of the lower levels long before it reached
the precincts of the town itself. Old Punchbowl crater, parched, grim
and forbidding, loomed a silent landmark above the scattered
village. A few auwais or irrigating ditches enticed wavering rivulets as
far down in places as the present line of School Street, forming the
only green spots that, oasis like, bordered the inland boundary of
the town.
And even then it was considered that rapid strides had
been and were being made in the matter of public improvement. To
quote the words of a local writer at the time: "Every year's
developments afford additional evidence that the Sandwich Islands
are acquiring a growing importance among the nations of the earth,
while the influence of trade decidedly tends to make this town
the center of commercial interest. To those who have visited Honolulu
five or ten years ago, the rapid
changes which have taken place are the most common topic of
remark. May those who shall sketch the progress of
advancement and describe the future of this rising town, be
enabled to speak of it as still advancing in everything which is
honorable, praiseworthy and becoming a civilized and Christian
community."
The harbor front of the town had then two jetties or boat
landings, known as Charlton's and Ladd & Company's. The ownership
of the former of which, with its surroundings, was about to be, or
in fact had already become a source of anxiety and trouble to the
government of that day, ending in the seizure, for a brief period, of
the Islands and the hoisting of the British flag, which event occurred
on the 25th day of February, 1843. Between the jetties and beyond
them to the northward, the waters of the harbor washed the inner
beach, until it connected with the
Nuuanu stream, where now spanned by the King street bridge,
and vessels in the harbor, which were always loaded and discharged
at their moorings, rafted or towed their water casks up this stream to
obtain their supplies of fresh water; the inhabitants of the town being
principally supplied by wells sunk upon their premises.
On the other hand, to the southward a fort, built with coral
blocks, backed with earth, fronted the narrow entrance to the harbor
and extended along the front of the
present line of Queen street, crossing Fort street, where the
Main entrance was located, giving that street the name still retained,
thence down the boundary of the present Allen & Robinson lot, from
thence across the shallow line of reef to a little beyond the present
line of Fort street, thence back to the upper line. The Esplanade of
today did not then exist. {The
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Esplanade is the current location of the Aloha Tower. -editor}
How different the picture from that of Honolulu and its
surroundings at the present day. Only twenty-four years previous to
that time, the Hawaiians had destroyed their idols and stood
revealed as a "country with a God." Closely following this event was the
opportune advent of the pioneer missionaries from New England,
who arrived at Kailua, Hawaii, April 4, 1820, and these Islands speedily
became an outpost of civilization and Christianity, cut off from the
outer world by thousands of miles
of ocean and months of weary voyaging. The coast of California,
some 2100 miles distant, was then but little known and important
chiefly for its products of hides and tallow, and if one should propose to
return to the civilized portions of the United States, it would be
about the last place to be considered as a landing for that
purpose. The few vessels trading
between these Islands and the Coast, generally made the bay of
Monterey their object point, with
occasional changes to Yerba Buena in the bay of San Francisco.
When in 1842, the Government of these Islands
deemed it urgently necessary to send commissioners to the United
States and Europe, to plead for recognition of their independence
and protection from foreign agents and war vessels that were
scheming to seize the group, they took what was considered the
shortest practicable but somewhat hazardous route, going by schooner
to San Blas and across Mexico to Vera Cruz on horse or mule back.
It was about that time and under those conditions that there
came into this harbor of Honolulu on March 30th, 1843, a French
whaling vessel, the ship Ajax, Le Tellier commander, of Havre,
France, some ten months out from
home. Captain Le Tellier, an
enthusiastic Freemason, was held in such high estimation by the
highest of French authority in Freemasonry in those days, as to
be empowered by the Supreme Council 33 degree of the Scottish
Rite in France, to institute lodges in ports of the Pacific and South Seas,
in places over which no other Masonic jurisdiction had been
established. Captain Le Tellier remained in
port until May 3rd, of that year,
when he sailed on a whaling cruise to the northwest. During the
interval, he met several brother Masons, both among the residents
and the officers of whaling vessels frequenting this
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At left, the second Masonic Temple
erected by Hawaiian Lodge #21
(cornerstone laid 27 Dec 1892), at
the corner of Hotel and Alakea
Streets.
Below, the interior of the temple.
Above, the first Masonic Temple erected
by Hawaiian Lodge #21 (cornerstone laid
4 Jan 1879), at the corner of Queen and
Fort Streets.
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port and it was mutually agreed that now was the time and the
opportunity to establish a lodge of Freemasons, and he granted
authority to these brethren to organize a lodge under the name of
"Le Progres de l'Oceanie." The first meetings of this
lodge were held on board the Ajax, and when the time came for her
departure, the meetings were held at the residence of Bro. John Meek
on the upper side of King street, where Smith or Konia street was
cut through about twelve years ago.
From Captain Meek's
residence the lodge moved and became regularly established in a
two-stored frame building on the lower side of King street and
opposite to Captain Meek's, he, as owner, having donated the use of
this building for lodge purposes. The upper floor was fitted up for
lodge and ante-rooms and the lower floor made a spacious and
convenient banquet hall. As this building stood back
from the street and was surrounded by a high board fence, it was in
every way well fitted for lodge
purposes in those days. A diligent search has been
made for the document containing the names of the original members
of this first lodge, but without success. As the earliest record
book with other papers was burned when the residence of Henry Sea
was destroyed by fire a few years later, it is to be feared that the
identity of all but three of the founders of Freemasonry in Hawaii,
as an evidence, is forever lost. These three were Captain Le
Tellier, John Meek, and Henry Sea. It is barely possible that in the
archives of the Order in France, there may still be preserved the
original list of names of those who were instrumental in the
organization of Freemasonry in our little Island world. If so, some of
our enthusiastic brethren of Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie may again
"bring to light" for record here, the broken link in our chain of
Patriarchs. When in 1849 the tide of
humanity from all parts of the
world, both civilized and uncivilized, swept in resistless current towards
the golden shores of California, these Islands furnished their full
quota in the mad, wild rush for fortune's favor. Lodge Le Progres
de l'Oceanie and its membership seemed to have been scattered to
the "four winds" and after a vain effort by the remnant still
remaining to keep the lodge together in working numbers, it
ceased to labor and was considered extinct.
But the spirit of Masonry still
existed, although circumstances beyond control forced it to lie
dormant for a time. Brethren, whose lives were spent mostly
upon the sea, missed the lodge and its influences, when they touched
this port. Brethren who had not been drawn into the vortex that
was stirring our nearest neighbors on the Coast, lamented the loss of
the opportunity to gather in the temple, where the lessons of
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mutual esteem, unfeigned friendships and benevolence were
duly impressed and exemplified, and it was not long before they
realized the necessity of repair the foundation and building anew the
structure of the lodge, seeking the jurisdiction of some grand body of
the order nearer home, and with whom they could have the benefit
of more frequent communication. Meanwhile, California had
become some place. Under the touch of the golden wand, it had
suddenly sprung into existence as a country whose name was a
household word in every portion of
the habitable globe; whose wealth was beyond computation and
whose population was already counted by its tens of thousands
and daily increasing. Even in those early days
Freemasonry came to the front in that wonderful "Golden Land," and
the Grand Lodge of California was organized April 19, 1850.
Of the earlier lodges scattered over the western portion
of the United States and the Pacific Coast, under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of the District of
Columbia, California Lodge of San Francisco had ranked as number
13. Upon the organization of the local Grand Lodge, California
immediately transferred its allegiance and as California Lodge
Number 1, held its first meeting under its present jurisdiction, May
23, 1850. Thus began the numerical system of lodges under
our Grand Lodge, which at the date of its fifty-second annual
communication, October 8, 1891, numbered in existence 273 lodges.
On the evening of December 8, 1851, a meeting of master
Masons was held at the residence of Captain John Meek in this city, to
take into consideration the practicability of forming a regularly
constituted lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the city of
Honolulu. Those present were Lemuel Lyon, Chas. W. Vincent,
Alex. J. Cartwright, Andrew C. Mott, Thos. W. Russom, Jacob Brown,
John Meek, F. W. Thompson, D. P. Penhallow, Wm. Wond, C. B.
Chappel, E. Low and Calvin
Bradley. Brother Lemuel Lyon presided
and after a full discussion, it was resolved that a petition be
addressed to the M. W. Grand Lodge of California, praying that a
charter be granted to the petitions for a Master Masons Lodge in this
city. At a meeting held on the
succeeding evening, Bro. Lyon was recommended to the Grand Lodge
as Master of the proposed Lodge, with Bro. John Meek as senior
Warden and Bro. Charles W.
Vincent as junior warden. The form of petition was read and approved
and it was resolved that the word "Hawaiian" should be inserted as
the name of the lodge. As Bros. Lyon and Penhallow were about to
visit California, they were appointed a committee to wait
upon the Grand Master with the petition and they were given full
power to exercise their own
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judgment in the furtherance of the wishes of the brethren here.
The next meeting was held February 11, 1852, at the residence
of Bro. Meek, when the names of Bros. Joseph Irwin and J. G.
Sawkins were added to the original roll. At this meeting, Bro. Lyon
having just returned from the Coast, presented the dispensation
granted by R. W. Benjamin D. Hyam, deputy grand master of the
Grand Lodge of California to Hawaiian Lodge, to work on
probation as a lodge of Master Masons.
This dispensation was dated
January 12, 1852. It was voted to accept
thankfully Bro. John Meek's kind offer the room previously occupied
by the brethren of Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie as a lodge
room, and which I have already described. Thus was Hawaiian
Lodge provided with a cradle. The first regular meeting of
Hawaiian Lodge under dispensation was held in that lodge room on the
evening of February 10, 1852, at 7 o'clock.
Here an election for
membership was held and the following brethren were declared as
forming Hawaiian Lodge U. D.: Lemuel Lyon, D. P. Penhallow, F.
W. Thompson, John Meek, Wm.
Wond, A. J. Cartwright, Charles W. Vincent, J. G. Sawkins, Jos. Irwin,
F. M. Stokes. And the list of officers was made complete as
follows: Lemuel Lyon, W.M.; Jno. Meek, S.W.; Chas. W. Vincent,
J.W.; Jos. Irwin, Treas.; A.J. Cartwright, Secy; Wm. Wond, S.
Deacon; F.W. Thompson, J. Deacon.
Petitions for degrees were received at this first meeting from
men who became well known in the business as well as Masonic circles
of our community. They were Michael Harvey, Henry Macfarlane,
Richrd Coady, James Dean and
John Montgomery; and at the second regular meeting held March
18, 1852, two of these applicants, Michael R. Harvey and Richard
Coady, had the distinction of being the first to be initiated in Hawaiian
Lodge. On the 5th day of May, 1852,
the Grand Lodge of California granted the charter which
authorized Hawaiian Lodge to work as a regularly constitute lodge
under its jurisdiction. And thus was born into full fellowship Hawaiian
Lodge No. 21 of Free and Accepted
Masons and the first lodge created beyond the territorial limits of the
United States by the Grand Lodge of California.